A cattery is facing closure after almost 30 years after its licence renewal was turned down.

Barnside Boarding Cattery in Meopham has launched an appeal against Gravesham council's decision but will have to shut if unsuccessful.

Owner Lynne Bull said: "If I cannot operate, it will have to close.

"It has been my life for so long. Cats have been part of my life since 1980.

"It is a difficult one. I am gutted but there will be an awful lot of people more gutted if Barnside closes."

The licence expired on December 14 but as Lynne still had cats in her care, she was allowed to continue operating until the end of January albeit unlicensed. She has this advertised on her website and informs customers.

If the facility in Wrotham Road, Meopham, does cease operating there will only be one licensed boarding cattery left in the borough, The Nook Pet Hotel in Brewers Road, Shorne.

Barnside's licence renewal was refused after a Gravesham council officer inspected the site. In correspondence sent to Lynne, which she shared with KentOnline, reasons included:

• Illegally boarding seven cats in a significantly non-compliant area of the cattery
• No emergency contact information on display, including a veterinary phone number

• Non-compliance with a range of conditions including paperwork, adequate training records for staff and storage of medication
• Her own cats were heavily matted and in poor condition.

Lynne says she told the council of the additional seven cats being kept at the facility after she helped an animal charity rescue them when they were dumped in the area in the summer. She said they were not under her care but admitted to failing to look up the regulations for rescue cats.

In reply to the other issues raised, she said she is Level 2 equivalently trained and ensures all members of staff are trained in animal welfare, the emergency contact information was displayed in the office but has now been distributed inside the cattery, and she believes all medication is stored appropriately and that she fills in the documentation to standard.

In terms of her own cats, she explained they do not like to be groomed so she waits until spring when it is warmer and denies they were "heavily" matted.

In 2018, new regulations were brought in by the government to strengthen animal welfare. Those regulations are enforced by local authorities.

Before this change, the licensing systems used to regulate businesses had been in place for more than 50 years.

Gravesham council was approached for comment but said as an appeal was pending, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.